130 AGRICUIvTURE OF MAINE. 



At the end of the season, report sheets were sent to each 

 contestamt calHng for name, address, location of orchard, slope, 

 soil, previous soil management, variety or varieties, use, — 

 commercial or home — ^distance apart of trees, fertilizer, amount 

 and cost, crop raised, cost of production, amount of crop, value 

 of same, cost of trees, expense of setting, expense of care and 

 amount of growth. 



It was believed that by covering the ground thoroughly, defi- 

 nite and valuable data could be obtained regarding adaptability 

 of variety, best methods of pruning and management and the 

 necessary costs in setting an orchard and bringing it into bear- 

 ing. 



The orchards were visited by a member of the Department 

 and aidvice as to pruning, etc., given to each grower. Unfortu- 

 nately, this advice was not followed as carefully as it sliould 

 have been, in a great many cases. When the returns came in, 

 it was found that one hundred seventy-eight (17S) growers had 

 entered the contest. Most of the que.s;tions were fully and com- 

 prehensively answered, but those relating to costs were dis- 

 appointing and showed lack of business methods in the manage- 

 ment. Some of the compilations regarding tlie reports have 

 been made up and are given below. 



The orchards are located in Counties as follows : — Andros- 

 coggin, 26; Cumberland, 9; Franklin, 13; Hancock, 9; Kenne- 

 bec, 16; Knox, 8; Lincoln, 9; Oxford, 19; Penobscot, 15; Pis- 

 cataquis, 10; Sagadahoc, 6; Somerset. 9; Waldo, 17; Washing- 

 ton, 7 ; York, 5 ; Aroostook being the only county not repre- 

 sented. 



As regards variety. Stark leads slightly over the Mcintosh in 

 number of times planted. Stark, 50; Mcintosh, 49; Baldwin, 

 31; Wealthy, 23; Wolf River, 18; Spy, 17; Tallman Sweet, 13; 

 Arctic, Gravenstein and King, 8 ; Delicious, Dudley Winter an :1 

 Gano, 7 ; Banana, King David and Rhode Island Greening, 6 ; 

 Senator, 5 ; Longfield and Rolfe, 3 ; Alexander, Baxter, Bell- 

 flower, Hubbardston, Jonathan, Maiden Blush. Milding, Opales- 

 cent, Paragon, Red Astrachan, Wagener and Wismer, 2 : Amer- 

 ica. American Blush, .Arkansas Red, Beitegheimer. Black Ben 

 Davis, Dutchess, Fall Pippin, Ohio Nonpareil, Pewaukee. Stay- 

 man, Spitzenburg, Walbridge and York Imperial, 1. Tlie large 



